Visas for Chinese group tourists and individual tourists

1. Chinese nationals who wish to come to Japan for a short-term stay

2．Visas for Chinese group tourists and individual tourists

If the purpose of the travel is tourism, the visa applicant can apply for visa up to 15 days through a travel agency in China, as explained below. To see which travel agencies handle tourism to Japan, please refer to the web site of the Japanese embassy / consulate in China.

(1) Group Tourists

As a general rule, tourist visits to Japan by Chinese nationals take the form of "group tourism" based on the related laws and regulations of China.

The person who wishes to travel to Japan would participate in a tour sponsored by an accredited travel agency in China and not apply for visa himself/herself. The travel agency in China applies for the visa based on documents submitted by the person traveling and the travel agency in Japan, who would prepare documents as a guarantor for Chinese tourists.

"Group tourism" is accompanied by an escort and tourists are asked not to act freely without an escort.

(2) Individual Tourists

To respond to increasing demands for more flexible tourism in small groups, if certain requirements are met, visas can be issued for "individual tourists".

The person traveling creates a travel schedule in advance, and then asks an accredited travel agency in China to make the arrangements for the travel. The travel agency in China applies for the visa based on documents submitted by the person traveling and the travel agency in Japan. The applicant him/herself is not required to make the application.

No escort accompanies individual tourists.

3. Okinawa multiple-entry visas (Individual Tourists)

If certain requirements are met, multiple-entry visas valid for up to 3 years can be issued to individual tourists visiting Okinawa. The stay in Japan during each visit should not exceed 90 consecutive days.

Okinawa multiple-entry visas can be applied through travel agencies in China in the same manner as visas for individual tourists. Chinese travel agencies apply for the visas at one of Japanese Embassy and Consulates-general in China based on documents submitted by the applicants and the travel agencies in Japan.

4. Tohoku multiple-entry visas (Individual Tourists)

If certain requirements are met, multiple-entry visas valid for up to 3 years can be issued to individual tourists visiting Iwate, Miyagi or Fukushima in Tohoku area in Japan. The stay in Japan during each visit should not exceed 90 consecutive days.

Tohoku multiple-entry visas can be applied through travel agencies in China in the same manner as visas for individual tourists. Chinese travel agencies apply for the visas at one of Japanese Embassy and Consulates-general in China based on documents submitted by the applicants and the travel agencies in Japan.